US11759054B2 - Electric deep cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric deep cooker including a main body and cover adapted to fully enclose food therein that includes a plurality of main electric heating elements connected along the interior surfaces of the main body and cover and are adapted to uniformly heat and cook food through its entire outer surface from the outside in, and further includes an electric interior heating element attached to the cover and adapted to be placed within the food being cooked and thereby heat and cook the food from the inside out while the plurality of main heating elements heat and cook the food from the outside in, to thereby uniformly and properly heat and cook the food, and in a shorter amount of time, than prior art electric deep cookers, and without the need to rotate the food within the main body of the electric deep cooker.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 63/121,273, filed Dec. 4, 2020 which is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of cooking apparatuses and more specifically to electric deep cookers and fryers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Known deep cookers and fryers all cook food from the outside in but lack the ability to cook food from the inside out at the same time, thereby resulting in food either being undercooked on the inside and/or burnt on the outside. Furthermore, the time needed to cook food within the prior art deep cookers and fryers is long and inconvenient. The applicant's previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 10,765,261, entitled “Electric Skewers and Cooking Apparatuses” introduces the concept of cooking food from the inside out while also cooking from the outside in at the same time. The “rotisserie” embodiment of this prior invention relies on a “unidirectional” outer heating source, the electric barbecue, which radiates heat in an upward direction while food is being rotated and heated a distance there above, while also being cooked from the inside out via the electric skewer rotisserie. However, in order to cook the food evenly from the outside in via the electric barbecue the electric skewer rotisserie and food thereon need to be rotated 360 degrees continuously until the food is cooked completely and evenly, which leads to the problem of twisting and eventually damaging associated electrical wires while transmitting electricity to its heating element.

Therefore, a need exists for an electric deep cooker that can cook food from the outside in while also cooking the food from the inside out to properly cook the food evenly throughout, in a shorter amount of time, and without the need to rotate the food while heating and cooking to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known electric deep cookers and electric skewers and cooking apparatuses, the present invention provides a novel electric deep cooker. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an electric deep cooker having a main body and cover adapted to fully enclose food therein that includes a plurality of primary electric heating elements connected along the interior surface of the main body and cover and adapted to uniformly heat and cook food through its entire outer surface from the outside in, and further includes an electric interior heating element attached to the cover and adapted to be placed within the food being cooked and thereby heat and cook the food from the inside out while the plurality of primary heating elements heat and cook the food from the outside in, to thereby uniformly and properly heat and cook the food, and in a shorter amount of time, than prior art electric deep cookers, and without the need to rotate the food within the main body of the electric deep cooker.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, An Electric Deep Cooker, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG.1 shows a perspective view illustrating an Electric Deep Cooker according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.2 shows a perspective view illustrating the Electric Deep Cooker according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention ofFIG.1, with the electric interior heating element placed within a turkey carcass.

FIG.3 shows another perspective view illustrating the Electric Deep Cooker according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention ofFIG.1, with the electric interior heating element placed within a turkey carcass and together placed within the main body for cooking.

FIG.4 shows a top view illustrating the electric interior heating element and the mechanism for changing the external diameter thereof for accommodating differing sized carcasses.

FIG.5 shows a top view illustrating the electric interior heating element and the mechanism for changing the external diameter thereof for accommodating differing sized carcasses ofFIG.4, wherein the handle is turned and the external diameter is changed.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an electric deep cooker having a main body and cover adapted to fully enclose food therein that includes a plurality of primary electric heating elements connected along the interior surface of the main body and cover and adapted to uniformly heat and cook food through its entire outer surface from the outside in, and further includes an electric interior heating element attached to the cover and adapted to be placed within the food being cooked and thereby heat and cook the food from the inside out while the plurality of primary heating elements heat and cook the food from the outside in, to thereby uniformly and properly heat and cook the food, and in a shorter amount of time, than prior art electric deep cookers, and without the need to rotate the food within the main body of the electric deep cooker.

Referring now to the drawingsFIG.1, the electricdeep cooker100 includes amain body200 and cover220 adapted to fully enclose food therein that includes a plurality of primaryelectric heating elements210 connected along the interior surface of themain body200 and cover220 and adapted to uniformly heat and cook food through its entire outer surface from the outside in, and further includes an elongated electricinterior heating element300 attached to thecover220, having secondaryelectric heating elements310 and320, and is adapted to be placed within the food being cooked and thereby heat and cook the food from the inside out while the plurality of primaryelectric heating elements210 heat and cook the food from the outside in, to thereby uniformly and properly heat and cook the food, and in a shorter amount of time, than prior art electric deep cookers, and without the need to rotate the food within the main body of the electric deep cooker.

Themain body200 further includes primary electric heating elementstemperature control member214 andbattery member216 electrically connected thereto. A power source can be formed as apower cord218 connected tobattery member216 to supply external power thereto and thereby to primary electric heating elementstemperature control member214, the plurality of primaryelectric heating elements210, thebattery member222 ofcover220, and the secondaryelectric heating elements310 and320. Mainbody power cord217 and coverpower cord219 are releasably connected together when thecover220 is releasably connected to themain body200 and transfer power frompower cord218 tobattery member222 ofcover220. As such, themain body200 and its elements can be powered frombattery member216 or frompower cord218, and the elements ofcover220 can be powered frombattery member222 or frompower cord218. Thecover220 can also receive power to itsbattery member222 via chargingport223 and an external power source.

Cover220 further includes acomputer processor260,control panel230, which can be formed using touch pad technology, and controlknobs240, each electrically connected totransceiver250 andbattery member222. Furthermore, the primary electric heating elementstemperature control member214 in themain body200 includes a transceiver and communicates withtransceiver250 ofcover220. As such,control panel230 andcontrol knobs240 can control the plurality of primaryelectric heating elements210 of themain body200 andcover220. Control options include temperature, cooking duration, and cooking start and stop times.Transceiver250 can also communicate with external controllers via radio transmissions, including BLUETOOTH technology. Thecover220 further includes amain display screen270 that can display information including current temperatures of the plurality of primaryelectric heating elements210 and secondaryelectric heating elements310 and320 of the electricinterior heating element300, the current time, cooking time, and cooking time remaining. Other control members can be connected viaUSB ports227.

When releasably connectingcover220 tomain body200,latch members280 ofcover220 releasably and securely connect withlatch members282 ofmain body200. At the same time mainbody power cord217 and coverpower cord219 releasably and securely connect to one another for power transfer via magnetic members, or clips, or any other known means of releasably connecting power cords.

As shown inFIGS.2 and3, the electricinterior heating element300 ofcover220 is inserted into the interior of the food chosen, for example aturkey carcass500. Then the electricinterior heating element300 andturkey carcass500 is inserted into themain body200 and thecover220 is securely attached to themain body200. From there, eitherbattery members216 and222 are used to power the electricdeep cooker100, or thepower cord218 is connected to an external power source, ie., a 220 volt A.C. power supply, to power the electricdeep cooker100, and thecontrol panel230 andcontrol knobs240 are used to choose a cooking setting, ie., temperatures and time of cooking, and cooking can commence.

As shown inFIGS.4 and5, the external diameter of the electricinterior heating element300 can be adjusted to fit more appropriately into the interior volume of differing sized food members, such as turkeys, chickens, pigs, etc. To accomplish this, cover220 further includes arotating handle290 having twoelongated rods332 extending downwardly therefrom, through an aperture incover220, and rotatably connecting to respective proximal ends oflinkages330 that are located within the interior volume formed by the electricinterior heating element300. The electricinterior heating element300 is formed including two elongatedtube sections315 having semi-hemispherical cross-sections connected to one another viaelongated hinge325. The secondaryelectric heating elements320 are extendable and retractable, ie., formed as springs, and connected to and extend between respective adjacent side edges of the twotube sections315, are electrically connected to secondaryelectric heating elements310, and are adapted to heat up and cook the food as well even when extended or retracted. Thelinkages330 are also connected at their respective distal ends to respectiveelongated tube sections315 vialinkage attachments334, which can be formed as loops, rings, hooks, pins and/or depressions formed upon the interior walls oftube sections315. Furthermore, the linkages can also be formed or cast as one piece with each respective tube section, and as such, the linkages would only pivot with respect to their respectiveelongated rod332. As such, whenhandle290 is rotatedlinkages330 either push or pull on theelongated tube sections315 and they will pivot with respect to one another viaelongated hinge325, and be held at the chosen position via friction betweenhandle290 and the top surface ofcover220, or via protrusions extending from the top surface ofcover220, or via an optional ratchet mechanism betweenhandle290 and the top surface ofcover220. Furthermore, when the handle is rotated in a first direction the two linkages push the two elongated tube sections causing them to pivot away from one another thereby increasing the external diameter of the cylindrical tube of the elongated interior heating element, and wherein when the handle is rotated in a second direction the two linkages pull the two elongated tube sections causing them to pivot toward one another thereby decreasing the external diameter of the cylindrical tube of the elongated interior heating element, wherein the external diameter of the elongated interior heating element can be adjusted to fit within different sized interiors of material being cooked within the deep cooker.

Theinterior heating element300 can be formed from more than two halves, and include other means for expanding or contracting to increase or decrease the external diameter thereof, such as a rotating ratcheting mechanism, a linear rack and pinion, or a rotating wedge. The distal end of theinterior heating element300 may also be formed having a full or partial cone shape to thereby aid with inserting theinterior heating element300 into the interior of the food, ie., turkey carcass. Theinterior heating element300 may also include a thermometer connected to thecomputer processor260 of thecover200 to thereby provide a means to monitor the interior temperature of the food before, during, and after cooking. The thermometer may also aid in any computer programming inputted into thecomputer processor260 used to automatically start, stop, and cook foods within the parameters of predetermined recipes.

Other embodiments and configurations can include fans to circulate the heat from the heating elements within the interior; cooking oil that transfers heat from the heating elements to the food and provides a means for basting and infusion of moisture and flavor into the food; holes through the cover along with syringes adapted to pass therethrough to inject liquids directly into the food while cooking; gas lines and gases, such as propane, included to provide a secondary means for heating when an external electric power source is not available or simply when desired. The gas lines can be included in both themain body200 along the interior walls and within theinterior heating element300. It is even conceived that microwave elements can be substituted for the electric heating elements in both the main body, the cover, and the interior heating element to heat and cook the food.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims (15)

What is claimed is:

1. A deep cooker comprising:

a main body including:

at least one side panel, each including:

an exterior surface;

an interior surface;

a top edge portion; and

a bottom edge portion;

a bottom panel including:

an exterior surface;

an interior surface; and

at least one side edge portion;

wherein said at least one side edge portion is connected to said bottom edge portion of each of said at least one side panel;

wherein said at least one side panel and said bottom panel define an interior volume; and

a plurality of primary heating elements;

wherein said plurality of primary heating elements are connected to said interior surface of said at least one side panel; and

wherein said plurality of primary heating elements are adapted to heat the interior volume of said main body;

a cover including:

a top panel including:

an exterior surface;

an interior surface;

at least one side edge portion;

wherein said top panel is adapted to be securely and releasably connected to said top edge portion of each of said at least one side panel of said main body; and

an elongated interior heating element including:

an elongated hollow cylindrical tube including:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

an interior surface;

an exterior surface; and

an external diameter;

a plurality of secondary heating elements;

wherein said plurality of secondary heating elements are connected to said elongated hollow cylindrical tube;

wherein said elongated interior heating element is connected at said proximal end to, and extends perpendicularly from, a center section of said interior surface of said top panel; and

wherein when said top panel is securely and releasably connected to said top edge portion of each of said at least one side panel of said main body, said elongated interior heating element extends into said interior volume of said main body;

an aperture;

wherein said aperture extends through said center section of said top panel;

a handle;

wherein said handle is adapted to rotate upon said exterior surface of said top panel and above said aperture;

two elongated rods, each including:

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a length therebetween;

wherein said two elongated rods are spaced from one another and connected to said handle at their respective proximal ends, and are adapted to extend through said aperture and into said elongated hollow cylindrical tube of said elongated interior heating element;

wherein said elongated hollow cylindrical tube of said elongated interior heating element is formed comprising:

two elongated tube sections, each including:

a linkage attachment;

 wherein said linkage attachment is formed on an interior surface of each elongated tube section;

wherein each of said two elongated tube sections are formed having a semi-cylindrical cross-section; and

an elongated hinge;

wherein said elongated hinge is connected between adjacent edges of said two elongated tube sections and is adapted to allow said two elongated tube sections to pivot with respect to one another; and

two linkages, each including:

a proximal end;

wherein said proximal end includes an aperture therethrough adapted to receive one of said two elongated rods therethrough; and

a distal end;

wherein said distal end includes an aperture therethrough adapted to pivotally connect with said linkage attachment of a respective one of said two elongated tube sections;

wherein when said handle is rotated in a first direction said two linkages push said two elongated tube sections causing them to pivot away from one another thereby increasing said external diameter of the cylindrical tube of said elongated interior heating element; and

wherein when said handle is rotated in a second direction said two linkages pull said two elongated tube sections causing them to pivot toward one another thereby decreasing said external diameter of the cylindrical tube of said elongated interior heating element;

wherein said external diameter of said elongated interior heating element can be adjusted to fit within different sized interiors of material being cooked within said deep cooker; and

a power source;

wherein said power source is electrically connected to said plurality of primary heating elements and to said plurality of secondary heating elements and is adapted to provide power to said plurality of primary heating elements and to said plurality of secondary heating elements;

wherein said plurality of primary heating elements are adapted to heat at least the entire outer layer of material placed within said deep cooker;

wherein said elongated interior heating element of said cover is adapted to be inserted into an interior portion of said material to be cooked within said deep cooker before said cover is securely and releasably connected to said main body; and

wherein when said cover is securely and releasably connected to said main body, said deep cooker is adapted to cook said material from the inside out and the outside in simultaneously.

2. The deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said plurality of primary heating elements are formed as electric heating elements; wherein said plurality of secondary heating elements are formed as electric heating elements; and wherein said power source is formed as an electrical power source.

3. The deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said bottom panel of said main body further includes at least one primary heating element connected to said interior surface thereof, is electrically connected to said power source, and is adapted to further heat said interior volume of said main body.

4. The deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said top panel of said cover further includes at least one primary heating element connected to said interior surface thereof, is electrically connected to said power source, and is adapted to further heat said interior volume of said main body.

5. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one side panel of said main body includes at least one releasable connector attached upon said top edge portion thereof; wherein said top panel of said cover includes at least one releasable connector attached upon said at least one side edge portion thereof, such that each said at least one releasable connector of said main body is adapted to be releasably connected to said at least one releasable connector of said cover to thereby releasably and securely connect said cover to said main body.

6. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said main body further includes a rechargeable battery member electrically connected to said power source, to said plurality of primary heating elements, and to said plurality of secondary heating elements, such that when said power source is disconnected said rechargeable battery member provides power to said plurality of primary heating elements and to said plurality of secondary heating elements.

7. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said top panel of said cover further includes:

a computer processor;

wherein said computer processor is electrically connected to said power source, to said plurality of primary heating elements, and to said plurality of secondary heating elements; and

a control panel;

wherein said control panel is connected to said exterior surface of said top panel;

wherein said control panel is electrically connected to said power source and said computer processor and is adapted to allow a user to input control information into said computer processor and is adapted to display information from said computer processor.

8. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 7, wherein said top panel of said cover further includes:

a transceiver;

wherein said transceiver is electrically connected to said power source and said computer processor and is adapted to receive and send information between said computer processor and an external controller.

9. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said main body is adapted to receive and retain cooking liquids therein; wherein said cooking liquids are adapted to transfer heat from said plurality of primary heating elements and said plurality of secondary heating elements to said material being cooked within said deep cooker.

10. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said main body is formed having a cylindrical shape; and wherein said top panel of said cover is formed having a disk shape.

11. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 1, wherein said top panel of said cover further includes a battery member and a charging port electrically connected to said battery member; wherein said battery member is adapted to be electrically charged via said power source, wherein said power source is an external power source.

12. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 7, wherein said top panel further includes at least one USB port electrically connected to said computer processor and said computer processor is adapted to allow a user to input control information into said computer processor via said at least one USB port.

13. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 5, wherein said power source is attached to said main body; and wherein said electric deep cooker further includes:

a main body power cord;

wherein said main power cord is connected to said exterior surface of said main body, and between said power source and one of said at least one releasable connector of said main body;

a cover power cord;

wherein said cover power cord connected is connected to said exterior surface of said cover, and between said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover and said plurality of secondary heating elements of said elongated interior heating element;

wherein said one of said at least one releasable connector of said main body and said one of said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover are adapted to conduct electricity, such that when said one of said at least one releasable connector of said main body and said one of said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover are connected together electricity can flow from said power source to both of said primary heating elements of said main body and to said plurality of secondary heating elements of said elongated interior heating element of said cover.

14. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 5, wherein said power source is attached to said cover; and wherein said electric deep cooker further includes:

a main body power cord;

wherein said main power cord is connected to said exterior surface of said main body, and between said plurality of primary heating elements and one of said at least one releasable connector of said main body;

a cover power cord;

wherein said cover power cord connected is connected to said exterior surface of said cover, and between said power source and said one of said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover;

wherein said one of said at least one releasable connector of said main body and said one of said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover are adapted to conduct electricity, such that when said one of said at least one releasable connector of said main body and said one of said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover are connected together electricity can flow from said power source to both of said primary heating elements of said main body and to said plurality of secondary heating elements of said elongated interior heating element of said cover.

15. The electric deep cooker ofclaim 5, wherein said at least one releasable connector of said main body and said at least one releasable connector of said top panel of said cover are magnetic.

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